Lady Owls jump three spots, share No. 13 in NAIA Top 25

The William Woods University Lady Owls basketball team moved up three places and is tied with Southern Polytechnic State (Ga.) University for No. 13 in the NAIA Division I Coaches’ Top 25 poll released Monday.

William Woods — coming off a 65-53 victory over nationally-ranked College of the Ozarks on Nov. 30 in Fulton — is 9-0 this season. Southern Polytechnic State is 8-1.

The Lady Owls play an exhibition game against NCAA Division I Western Illinois University at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Macomb, Ill.

She recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the Lady Blue Jays’ 76-68 win over Fontbonne University on Dec. 1 in St. Louis. Klaffenbach finished 7-of-10 from the field and 3-of-3 at the free-throw line.

She followed that up with 17 points — making 11-of-12 free throws — and four rebounds in Westminster’s 79-64 home victory over Spalding (Ky.) University last Saturday.

William Woods softball

team adds two recruits

Lady Owls head coach Tracy Gastineau has announced the signing of two recruits — Fort Zumwalt South senior Kacey Schamhorst on Monday and Centralia senior Samantha Parsons on Dec. 2 — to letters of intent for the 2012 season.

Schamhorst, a 5-foot-7 first baseman-outfielder, earned four varsity letters at Fort Zumwalt South. She was a two-time, first-team all-district and all-conference selection, and was also a member of an all-region team while helping Fort Zumwalt South capture district and conference championships.

Schamhorst was also a four-time academic all-conference choice and a two-time scholar-athlete.

“We are excited to have Kacey join our softball program,” Gastineau said. “She has soft hands in the infield and has a smooth swing, and is a powerful line-drive hitter at the plate.

“Kacey is also an excellent student-athlete balancing academics and athletics successfully. We look forward to her being a part of our softball program for the next four years.”

Parsons — a 5-6 infielder — earned four varsity letters at Centralia. She was an honorable-mention all-district and second-team all-conference pick this past season, a first-team all-district and second-team all-conference selection in 2009, and an honorable-mention all-district choice in 2008.

Parsons helped Centralia win a conference championship this past season and a district title in 2009.

“We are delighted that Sam is joining our program for the next four years,” Gastineau said. “She is an energetic and versatile athlete that will blend well within our team.

“She has the ability to play several defensive positions, and offensively is able to hit to both sides of the field with consistency.”

William Woods baseball

team signs juco recruit

Owls head coach Darren Munns has announced the signing of Bobby Butvin, a transfer from Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Ill., to a letter of intent for the 2011 season.

Butvin — a 6-foot-2 outfielder — batted .444 with eight home runs and 44 runs batted in as a freshman at Lewis and Clark in 2009. He led the team and was in the top five in the conference in all three categories.

Butvin previously earned three varsity letters at Crestwood High School in Mantua, Ohio. He was a two-time all-state selection in 2007 and 2009, and a Louisville Slugger honorable-mention All-American in 2009.

Butvin also participated in the Ohio All-Star game in 2009.

“I am ecstatic that Bobby Butvin has joined the William Woods baseball program,” Munns said. “Bobby will have an immediate impact as a run producer in the middle of our lineup. He had a tremendous freshman season at Lewis and Clark, and is poised for another great year.

“More importantly, Bobby is a quality young man that exhibits the work ethic necessary to be a great player. I look forward to working with him and continuing his development as a person and player.”